I believe the diorama up top was made by Takuji Yamada.  He is famous for making nostalgic dioramas with a very human touch to them.  For me, this particular one does remind me of Sato Hobby in Yachiyo-Dai , Chiba, which was the first shop I remember when I was a wee lad visiting Japan in 1970.  Sadly, this shop is now gone, the victim of competition from the bigger discount stores and the internet.

I still have some unused discount coupons from them from my last visit around 1992.

Don Stauffer

Here is my take on the theme. I built this several years ago, in 1:24 scale.  It is supposed to represent a shop from the mid fifties.

 

Don,

Many thanks for posting the photo- I enjoy seeing your diorama.

The store front and model airplanes in the window bring back fond memories of a shop I used to visit after school:

http://www.breitlinks.com/Paul_Breitsprecher/pilot_hobby_shop.htm

Regretably, the owner retired some years ago and closed the shop.

Hi ;

    When my son was alive he dragged me to the Hobby Shops . He found one and insisted I go . Best decision I ever made .         T.B.

That's a great dio!

I think it's probably more common to see dads alone in these shops - most guys i know, their sons aren't at all into modelling.

If i have a son, i'll be dragging him along with me to my hobby store visits.

Whoa! That post came out weird. I'm not right sure how I pulled that off.

modelcrazy

I'll play with you Joe. Man I would play armor, naval, air, modern, WW2, fantasy miniature games. You think of it, I would play it.

Thanks MC! I'm the same way. My games include a bit of everything: WWII, Napoleonic, Ancient Trireme naval, Civil War, Cold War,...you name it, I have a board game for it.

Don, That is absolutely terrific. You did some really fine detailing. Thank You for sharing that with us.

 

Wow, that's a great dio. Sadly nostaglic, in a way-- mean, how many Dads really take their kids to a hobby stiore nowadays?

Nice model scene from Don as well. 

Hi ;

   This vignette reminds me of a shop in Ft . Myers , Florida called the " Hole in the Wall Hobbies " It was built in what had been someone's Garage  .

    Tanker - Builder

Gee Whiz Don !

    Now that looks just like Kensington Hobbies except for one thing .You had to walk carefully . The shop was that full of models ! What carrier is that ?

     Tanker-Builder

Very cool Don! I don't go back quite that far but I remember a few shops still looking much like that even up until the early '80s.

Here is my take on the theme. I built this several years ago, in 1:24 scale.  It is supposed to represent a shop from the mid fifties.

I'll play with you Joe. Man I would play armor, naval, air, modern, WW2, fantasy miniature games. You think of it, I would play it.

I've seen this before somewhere and, yes, I was completely taken aback by the detail and skill involved. For me, I was curious on how they made the kit boxes. Very cool. Not only does this bring back memories but, it also makes me laugh as that is how I still am every time I set foot in a hobby shop.

Speaking of GHQ armor, I still have quite a collection from my younger days of table top gaming. In fact, I still have a number of boxed wargames, i.e. Avalon Hill, etc.., in storage. I would still love to play yet, I have no one around to play with.

Sprue-ce Goose

Those armour models could be GHQ 1/285 scale wargaming models:

I have to admire people who can pull something like this off, very cool! 

Bish

Good point Spruce, I didn't think of wargaming models.

 

Considering the impact computer games have had upon society, I am surprised that GHQ still exists.

Maybe in my distant past,but going away fast.

Very cool and nostalgic dio.

Bish

Ye, I know what you mean. Those armour models must be 72nd scale, unless they were scratch built.

 

Might be scratch build models.

Doesn't look familiar to me, either.............

My local shop had kits lining the wall on one side of the store while a slot car track took up the remaining space.

Regarding that scene: I seem to recall seeing miniature hobby magazines in a rack, as well.

Bish

Thats a cracking scene, does it give a scale.

Nope, i have no idea what you mean

Thats a cracking scene, does it give a scale.